3. Meet a group of giant gorillas

The multi-coloured animals will stand guard over this year’s festival.

The 10 sheet-metal gorillas, standing 6ft tall and weighing nearly 16 stone, will go on show for the first time when the iconic festival of singing and dancing gets underway.

The spectacular primates, each clutching a huge bunch of bananas, have been created at the British Ironwork Centre near Oswestry.

After Llangollen, the gorillas will be taken on a tour of festivals across the UK.

4. A visit from the choir world’s favourite MD

(Saturday, July 11 at 7.30pm)

Choirs will battle it out in the Saturday night sing-off for the coveted Pavarotti Trophy in the annual Choir of the World competition, which will feature Gareth Malone.

The celebrated choirmaster, who masterminded the meteoric rise to fame of the Military Wives Choir, will also unveil his new Voices choir who will perform their own material conducted by Malone himself. They will also join the competing international choirs for a special performance.

Gareth Malone

5. A tribute to Patagonia

(Wednesday, July 8 at 7.45pm)

Former royal harpist Catrin Finch will take part in a concert at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod which will also feature the world premiere of a new work to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Welsh colony in Patagonia. The piece will be performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

The orchestra will perform the new work written by composer Hector MacDonald, a fourth generation Welshman who comes from Chubut Province in Patagonia where descendants of the original settlers cling on to their Welsh identity.

6. Lend us a tenor

(Thursday, July 9 at 7.45pm)

One of the country’s favourite tenors, Alfie Boe, returns to Wales following his recent gig at Swansea Singleton Park to entertain visitors to the festival. He will headline a show which will also feature Sophie Evans, Amy Dickson and Jonathan Antoine and feature the best songs from musical theatre as well as film scores.

Alfie Boe

7. A celebration of Luciano Pavarotti

An exhibition has been created to celebrate the links of superstar tenor Luciano Pavarotti to the eisteddfod. He was part of the Chorus Rossini from Modena in Italy when they performed to win the Male Voice Choir competition in 1955.

The exhibition, which include memorabilia such as pictures of his visit, will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Italian maestro’s 1955 appearance and the 20th of his return.

The Llangollen International Eisteddfod runs from July 6 to 12. Click here for details